Nightflying - The Entertainment Guide

The 30th annual SXSW will take place March 11th through 20th in Austin, Texas. Thousands of Showcasing Artists have performed on SXSW's stages over the past three decades, several of which went on to build prolific careers. Nightflying was one of the original media partners of SXSW, and are very proud to have played a small part in helping foster such an amazing event.

You never know who you might discover at the SXSW Music Festival; these are just a few examples. Performing at SXSW Music is just one step in an artist’s career, but we’re proud to have played a part in the growth of several.

Dixie Chicks (First Performance at SXSW: 1991)

The current incarnation of famed country music trio Dixie Chicks wasn’t so in 1991, the year they performed at SXSW Music. Back then, they were a bluegrass quartet and lead singer Natalie Maines wasn’t yet part of the lineup. The group went on to achieve commercial success beginning in 1998 with the hit singles “There’s Your Trouble” and “Wide Open Spaces,” both of which hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. The group has won 13 Grammy Awards to date.

Spoon (First Performance at SXSW: 1995)

Austin, Texas rock band Spoon first performed at SXSW long before they were named last year’s Grulke Prize® winner for Career Act. In fact, their first performance at SXSW was in 1995 and they quickly became a staple on SXSW lineups over the years. Spoon’s popularity grew steadily throughout the aughts after signing with Merge Records; the band performed on several late night talk shows as well as Saturday Night Live after the release of 2002’s Kill The Moonlight, and their 2010 album Transference debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200.

Black Eyed Peas (First Performance at SXSW: 1998)

Before their 2003 chart-topping hit “Where Is The Love?” and the addition of Fergie, the trio of will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo performed at SXSW under the name of The Black Eyed Peas mere months before the release of their debut album, Behind the Front, on Interscope in 1998. Since adding Fergie to the lineup, the group has gone on to win five Grammy Awards and release several Platinum albums and #1 singles over their career.

Death Cab For Cutie (First Performance at SXSW: 1999)

Death Cab for Cutie was formed at Western Washington University in 1997 before releasing their full-length debut, Something About Airplanes, in August 1998. Seven months after their second appearance at SXSW Music (their first was in 1999), the band earned widespread critical acclaim with the release of their 2003 album Transatlanticism, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard indie chart. Death Cab signed with Atlantic shortly thereafter and received platinum certification on their major-label debut (2005’s Plans).

The Black Keys (First Performance at SXSW: 2003)

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney formed this bluesy rock and roll duo back in 2001, a couple years before their first performance at SXSW Music. The band built a substantial underground following throughout the next decade, signing to Fat Possum Records and collaborating with Danger Mouse along the way. The Black Keys found their commercial breakthrough with the 2010 album Brothers, which led them to three Grammy Awards. Their eighth album, 2014’s Turn Blue, was their first #1 record.

We're making plans to attend, and hope to see you there! For more info, visit SXSW.com.